A number of pubs around SE1

The Market Porter, Borough Market, SE1 9AA

A lively after work pub they have a good selection real ales. You've gotta love it when you walk into a pub and that second you spot a mate who passes you pint instantly from the bar, what simple joy. We had a pint of Harveys Sussex Best which hits the spot with its light and mildly hopped flavour when its the first pint of evening after working all day.


The Rake, Borough Market, SE1 9AG

I've visited this pub a few times now and its easy to see why people come back - the selection of beers, ales and ciders is outstanding. It really is small inside but the fact that all the draught beers and ciders have been different every time I've visited is such a novelty, a novelty which appeals to me a hell of a lot. The bar staff seem to really understand what they are selling and a dubious slightly vinegary beer was immediately replaced with no qualms. We drank BrewDog's Physics beer which really reminded me of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale with it's extreme hopping and easy drinking nature - incidentally the first Sierra Nevada I had on draught was here a couple of years ago, its now one of my favourite beers and to get one in the same class brought big smiles to our faces.


The Royal Oak, Borough, SE1 4JU

What a gem of an English pub. Tucked away so much from Borough High St that its one of those pubs where everybody in there must keep going back time and time again. A Harveys owned pub the selection of their beers is hard to find elsewhere, the pint of Sussex Best put to shame the one we had earlier (even though the earlier one was great!). A pint was followed by traditional hearty pub grub, I had the Game Pie which was served with chips and masses of well cooked veg. Obviously homemade the pie had a suet crust and a good variety of different game meats. After a post meal pint of hand pulled Thatchers Heritage cider we decided to finish off with a bottle of Harveys 8.1% Christmas Ale and a cheeseboard. In the way a glass of port works with cheese, the intense treacle followed by liquorice undertones of the Christmas Ales really worked, the cheeseboard was generous with big chunks of cheddar, brie, stilton and goats cheese - more than enough for two to share. This pub really is quite special; unassuming, unpretentious with a great atmosphere it is just a proper boozer. I imagine there aren't many pubs around when a group of five nurses come in after finishing a shift and order three pints of mild and two of pale ale - seems everybody appreciated the beer here. I know this will be a pub I'll find it hard to stay away from.

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